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John Elway spells out roster plans for the Denver Broncos ... minus the gaping hole

GM: 'Life is too short to rebuild in the NFL'

By Nicki Jhabvala

The Denver Post

Posted:
02/28/2018 08:08:42 PM MST

Updated:
02/28/2018 08:09:10 PM MST

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will be back for his ninth season with the Broncos, general manager John Elway said Wednesday in his news conference at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. (Joe Amon / The Denver Post)

INDIANAPOLIS — If there was any year that Denver Broncos general manager John Elway wanted to strap on his helmet and shoulder pads again, it was 2017.

"Just to try to get things turned around," he said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine. "Sitting in my chair, it was a long year. ... And you just have to wait for it to be over. I was asked why I was so happy and I said, 'Because 2017 is over and we get to go into 2018.' "

For the first time in Elway's tenure as an NFL executive, the Broncos finished a season with a losing record and were left with myriad questions to answer and numerous holes to plug on the roster. In the coming weeks, as free agency begins and the draft follows, those holes will be filled and in the months after that, the Broncos will appear a renewed team.

Elway hopes, anyway.

"Life is too short to rebuild in the NFL," he said with a wide grin.

But after making the rounds with media and answering questions about nearly every player, every position, Elway had all but laid out his plans for 2018. That is, minus one massive decision that not even he could yet answer.

To wit:

• At receiver, the plan is to bring back receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, two names who were in question primarily because of their price tags and the offense's overall need for change. The Broncos, Elway said, will pick up Thomas' $4 million option that will trigger the final two years on his deal, and Sanders will return alongside him after months of rehab and recovery from an ankle injury suffered last season.

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"I think they're still elite wide receiversm, and I think it was a down year for both of them, as well as the rest of our football team," Elway said. "So the expectation is for them to come back and play like they're capable of because I think they still have a lot of football left and are still a top receiving pair in the league. High expectations, but they've got to come back and play a lot better."

For the third receiver spot, Elway is hopeful Carlos Henderson, a third-round pick who was on injured reserve last season, blossoms into a reliable pass-catcher and gives the offense another sorely needed weapon. Same goes for Jake Butt, a tight end who spent his rookie season mostly the training room recovering from knee surgery.

"It would be nice to have them back. We'll see what they can do," Elway said. "We had big plans for them last year. We didn't know when Jake was going to be back, obviously. He couldn't get back, so he'll be back healthy and ready to go. Carlos unfortunately broke the hand or the wrist and was not able to go. We drafted him the third round last year. We're excited about him, too."

• Running back C.J. Anderson and cornerback Aqib Talib, two names that have come up repeatedly in discussions of veterans who could be let go — well, there's a chance neither will be back. Parting with both of them would clear $15.5 million in cap space.

"I'm not saying they'll be back for sure, but I'm not going to say they are gone," Elway said. "We're exploring a lot of options on other players, too. That is what you do this time of year. It's not just isolated to those two players."

• On the offensive line, the Broncos will have Menelik Watson back at right tackle and they're toying with moving right guard Ron Leary to the left guard spot. "Those are all ideas," Elway said. "We've got 10 (draft) picks. I think depending on how free agency falls — we'll dabble in free agency, too."

• At inside linebacker, Elway said he's hopeful of retaining starter Todd Davis, who will hit the open market as a free agent in March. Davis was a waiver claim in 2014 who was elevated to the starting role in 2016, alongside fellow starter Brandon Marshall.

• On the defensive line, Derek Wolfe, a veteran end who underwent neck surgery, is expected to be back. "Sounds like he is doing really well. He's happy with the surgery so far," Elway said. "... That is another one we plan on going forward with."

• The Broncos have three restricted free agents in center Matt Paradis, outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett and receiver Bennie Fowler. It's expected that Paradis and Barrett would receive second-round tenders worth a projected $2.9 million apiece for one year. But Elway said Denver is figuring out the right tag to avoid losing them to outside suitors.

Which leaves the biggest question and the void that has remained since Peyton Manning's retirement after Super Bowl 50. The Broncos need a true starting quarterback. The Broncos need at least a couple quarterbacks.

The team has three under contract for 2018 — Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly — but Elway indicated only who was currently slated to return.

"We're going to try to get as many good ones as we can and Paxton is still under contract," Elway said. "I still think Paxton can have a great career in this league, so by no means are we kicking him to the curb."

Though Elway, as well as coach Vance Joseph, have been coy about their specific plans for acquiring a starter and though both have danced around the NFL's anti-tampering policy by avoiding specific names such as Kirk Cousins and Case Keenum, Elway said he will "explore all options in free agency" and fill in the roster when the draft rolls around in April.

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